FOOD 4 LESS, RALPHS KNOT TO BE TIED THIS WEEK

LOS ANGELES -- The $1.5 billion merger of Ralphs Grocery Co., Compton, Calif., with Food 4 Less Supermarkets, La Habra, Calif., is scheduled to close in two days, creating a bigger, stronger entity with the potential to dominate the southern California market for years.According to Ron Burkle, chief executive officer of Yucaipa Cos., which owns Food 4 Less, the money and stock certificates are expected

LOS ANGELES -- The $1.5 billion merger of Ralphs Grocery Co., Compton, Calif., with Food 4 Less Supermarkets, La Habra, Calif., is scheduled to close in two days, creating a bigger, stronger entity with the potential to dominate the southern California market for years.

According to Ron Burkle, chief executive officer of Yucaipa Cos., which owns Food 4 Less, the money and stock certificates are expected to change hands and the bonds in the new company to be redeemed by about noon Wedn